It is with a humble and grateful heart that I accept the leadership of our Order and am honored to help you take it to it's next level. I ask each of you for help in making this transition.

This website is over 10 years old and in computer time, that is ancient. It has served us well but now critical pieces are broken and cannot be fixed. Additionally, the world has changed in the past 10 years. The phishing, hacking, and mischief that we encounter online today was a small ripple and not the tidal wave that we see coming at us today.

The vision of growing this Order beyond 4 walls was truly inspired by Brighid herself. and Kim brought it into being. May Brighid bless her always. The internet has allowed us to follow Her example and extend the reach of Her Cloak across mountains, seas and crossing all political borders.

We are going through some organizational and mechanical changes and for most humans, change can be painful no matter how necessary. I understand that and share some of the fear and trepidation. I am not a Goddess nor a Saint, I have no special powers to help us through this transition without pain. What I can say, is if something doesn't work out, we will try another path until we find one that takes us where we want to go. And we will travel our paths with good cheer and with kindness and respect to all.

As you tend your shifts, please ask Brighid to remember our Order and send us anything we need to serve Her and do the work that need to be done in her name. Our stewardship of Mother Earth, especially her waters and her healing are in critical need today. May we use her fire to do her work with creativity and mindfulness.

Thank you for your patience as we go through this transition. I ask your prayers and guidance with an open mind and heart.

Rose, Abbess of Ord Brighideach International 2017

Message to Flamekeepers from Kim Diane

Dear Flamekeepers,

I am writing to let you know that I am resigning as Abbess of Ord Brighdideach. This 20th year of incorporation seems like a fitting year for this change.

I have passed on the mantle of Abbess to Rose, who has served as the Order’s administrator this past year. I will let her speak to her plans for the Order, but I know she is dedicated to the inclusive nature that has been a hallmark of the Order since its creation.

Thank you for your service as tenders of our Lady’s Flame, your support over these past many years, and your Love of Brighid.

We of Ord Brighideach have heard and have answered Her call. We are a Brigidine Order of Flamekeepers engaging in devotional work to Brighid. We are committed to carrying out Brighid's work in this world in the manner in which we have been called, or, if we have not yet been called, in a manner in which we feel will serve Her. If She speaks to you - as poet, healer, smith, storyteller, musician, craftsperson, midwife, mother, hearth keeper, land steward, tender of herds, seer, woman of fire, lawgiver, deity of the home, lady of the sun, or simply as saint or goddess - you are welcome to walk among us.

"One of the reasons I love Ord Brighideach, is that we are drawn together, people of different paths, by the warmth of Brighid's flame. I do not think that this harmony can be found anywhere else, and my prayer is that it spreads, like the light and heat of the hearth fire."
Coinin Carroll

Each Flamekeeper is assigned a shift to tend Brighid's flame on a 20 day cycle - 19 shifts, plus one day upon which Brighid tends the flame herself. Since the Celtic day runs from sundown to sundown, we tend from sundown to sundown. The expectation is that you will tend the flame for as much of the day as possible, taking safety into consideration. If you can only manage a few minutes, that is acceptable, although tending the flame the entire day is optimal. The longer you are able to tend, the more energy we will be able to generate: an offering to this world and the otherworld, as well as to Brighid.

Each cell of 19 shifts is named after a sacred tree. Flamekeepers have the choice of being in a coed, all female or all male cell.

When I first met Brigit in journey work, it was with my Druid group, Cedar Light Grove, several years ago. Morrighan was there also, but it was Brigit who placed a tunic over me that had many symbols on it. I didn't understand its meaning then.

I began my journey about 10 minutes before sundown. This was to be my first flame tending, and I was very excited. Something about it seemed so ancient, so powerful, and so familiar. I am very new to Brighid, well, new in my awareness of her, somehow I feel she's been with me for much longer. I walked outside with my lantern to the circle of stones built to honor my ancestors, I placed the lantern in the center. I sat for a minute, with my mother, as we watched the sun go down. I said my oath, the genealogy of Brighid, and lit the flame. I felt honored, and blessed to be keeping her ancient flame.

This is my first official flametending, though I am a hobbyist blacksmith and my smithy has been dedicated to Brigid almost since I first worked hot metal with a hammer in 2002. A friend brought her to my attention about a year after I started smithing and it felt very natural to invite Brigid to join me my work. I considered every lighting of the forge to be a tending of her flame, and I even used a candle contagioned with the Kildare flame to light the burner a few times.
I'm currently in graduate school studying public history (I feel it's her influence as a giver of words) and the job I left to pursue my advanced degree was in the medical billing field. I also find myself in the frequently uncomfortable space of impromptu counselor for people who feel the need to vent. I consider every minute of both of those to be a sacrifice to her healer aspect-- I really didn't enjoy appealing insurance denials, and it's awkward at best to have perfect strangers just start rattling off their problems as if I have answers. But I genuinely feel it was the tradeoff for the gifts she'd given me.

Brighid, Brigit, Bride Great Goddess,
of many names, I dedicate myself to You.
All that I do is in your honor and for love of you.
Teach me, let me feel the warmth of your love
and your gentle touch. Let me hear the wisdom
of Your words.